Ultracorps

[NotJeff]

Over in the IRC, a few of us have been playing this turn-based multplayer space-themed war/economy sim browser game, Ultracorps (http://ultracorps.sjgames.com), that I rediscovered 10 years after having played it previously. We've just finished a 3-player and a 6-player games, and now we're looking for anyone else who wants to join us. It works like this:

Each turn, all players secretly and simultaneously have a chance to plan where each of their fleets will go, and produce new units on each of their planets. The game waits for everyone - the game isn't played all in one go, we played about one turn per day. When everyone's done (or on a 24 hour timer if we'd rather), the game engine calculates results, and then gives us the new game setup. Whoever has the most planets at the end, wins.

If this sounds like something you might be interested in, read the extensive help on the website. Maybe make an account and try a single player game. And then post here to let me/us know -- in around a week, we'll divvy up players into groups of 6 or less and start a new round of games.

[NotJeff]

Players:


NotJeff
Wackman3000
Ghostbear
Shrinn
Food Nipple
Jackel
Crashcart
RandoM51
Sandman
Airosh

[Shrinn]

I'll be in. I'll start reading the rules soon.

[Food Nipple]

I'd like to give this a shot too!

[Jackel]

I'll be down for a second game.

[Crashcart]

I'll be down for a second game.
Yeah, I'm up for another game as well. Third time's a charm?

[RandoM51]

I suppose I can give this a spin, now that I've given you guys a 2 game experience handicap.

[NotJeff]

I suppose I can give this a spin, now that I've given you guys a 2 game experience handicap.

Well played, Random.

[Wackman3000]

Figured I would just chime in to say that this game is a blast and anyone even slightly interested should wander over to the site and check out a SOLO game. It really helps you with learning the basics of the game and be sure to have the help files open along with it.

Also, everyone should feel free to check out our IRC subsection of the main CoG group. We usually discuss the turn(s) of the day, any nasty defeat or a unit in particular we like, just general talk about the game.

irc.enterthegame.com #colonyofgamers #cog-uc

[Airosh]

Count me in for a game, sounds interesting so I may as well give it a shot. Going to need to play some solo before we start this, so I'm not completely lost!

[Wackman3000]

Going to give this one last bump, since we will probably finish up our previous game soon and get a new one rolling. So if anyone has been on the fence, take a look and let us know.

[Fenced]

Looks interesting. I might want to join up down the road, first I have to find the time to try it in single-player. So maybe the game after next?

[NotJeff]

Looks interesting. I might want to join up down the road, first I have to find the time to try it in single-player. So maybe the game after next?

You're welcome to play this next round if you like. It's slow paced, learning as you go is plausible. We'll get started in a few days, so just let us know.

[NotJeff]

Game two results:
http://i41.tinypic.com/nqhzm.jpg

I'll split up the players for games 3 and 4 imminently.

[NotJeff]

I used random.org to generate an ordering of the integers 1-10, and redid it until it split the 6 old players 3 and 3, and the 4 new players 2 and 2. Fenced, if you decide to join before the games get built, you can.

Game #3:

Sandman
RandoM51
NotJeff
Jackel
Shrinn


Game #4:

Crashcart
Wackman
Ghostbear
Airosh
Food Nipple


We'll get the games generated momentarily. Please don't join them until we've figured out what we want to do with race selection: everyone picks whatever they want, or draft and each person gets a unique race. There's an economic disadvantage to being the same race as someone else.

[Wackman3000]

I'd like to see everyone play a different race in my game. Doesn't matter how we decide, but it would be nice to have variety.

[Shrinn]

I'd like to see everyone play a different race in my game. Doesn't matter how we decide, but it would be nice to have variety.

That gets my vote too

[NotJeff]

In the IRC, we've decide players should pick races in reverse order of most recent finish.

Game 3:
Shrinn -> Random -> Jackel -> Sandman -> NotJeff

Game 4:
Airosh -> Food -> Crashcart -> Wackman -> Ghostbear

If you think you're being cheated being forced to pick early before other people, you can pass and go last or something. I think picking first is probably just advantageous.

Shrinn and Airosh, what races do you want? Airosh and Foodnipple, what are your account names at UC? I found Shrinn and Random OK.

Games will be won by the player with the most worlds on turn 25. Economy is on. Wack is administering game #4, and we've agreed we'll set nobody worlds to autobuild on the first turn any player abandons the game (their worlds turn to nobody worlds, a huge advantage for nearby players in mid-late game).

Game has in-game mail and forums, but you might want to join the IRC. #cog-uc on efnet.

Quick tips: Production infrastructure is important. Diplomacy is important. Economy is important. Conquest is job one.

[Shrinn]

I've joined as Ectonian. Random is up for joining and picking his nonectonian race.

[NotJeff]

I accidentally set colony #3 up as 6 player. Fenced, do you want in or should I nuke and reform it?

EDIT: In the interest of speeding start, I will just reform the game.

[Airosh]

Okay well, my name/profile is Airosh and oh jeez, first pick of race?!?!? I've only played a little solo, so I'm unsure on what race, I'm going to need a little more practice then I'll return with a decision on what to do with the race selection.

Edit: You know what I don't really care and I just finished my first solo game so I'll just use the race that I used there, the "Swamp Beasts".

[RandoM51]

I chose my race and took my turn.

Oh, I chose Xirons.

[NotJeff]

Jackel's up for race selection on game #3.

[Fenced]

I'm still out, so no worries. I'm up for the next one though.

[Jackel]

I've made my racial pick. Next up: Sandman.

And I'm Cosmic Needle Men.

[Wackman3000]

Come on game 2, let's get this going!

[Food Nipple]

My bad, my account is up and running now.

[Airosh]

Come on game 2, let's get this going!

I thought you were going to make it. NotJeff said you were going to be the administrating the other game. And the administrator has to be the one who makes it, so if I made it I or anyone else made it, they would be the administrator and I for one, would be lost if I was in that position.

[Wackman3000]

I have the game queued up, but until I have usernames and people with race decisions, we can't really go anywhere.

Food, what race have you decided, and what is your account name? Food Nipple?

[Food Nipple]

Acct name is FoodNipple, awaiting an invite.

[Wackman3000]

Invites have been sent for my game.

[Ghostbear]

I'll join as soon as everyone in our game picks their race.

[Sandman]

I've picked my race. It's time for NotJeff.

I'm the Guir.

[NotJeff]

I've picked my race. It's time for NotJeff.

I'm the Guir.

I chose the Mah-Tog. Each player now has a 'done' button to indicate when they're finished. Ideally we'll go about a turn a day on average. If it gets superslow, we can consider setting a tick schedule instead.

Random, I know you said you took your turn. You'll still need to click 'Done' on your com-net.

Game is publically viewable (with a UC account) at http://ultracorps.sjgames.com/zgame/game/main.html?gameID=66235

[Wackman3000]

Both games have now begun!

[RandoM51]

I clicked it. Nice of them to make that button completely different than all the other buttons on the page.

[Sandman]

I clicked it. Nice of them to make that button completely different than all the other buttons on the page.

You really should join us in IRC.

[RandoM51]

Weather is too nice to spend all day in front of a PC.

[Ghostbear]

Just a tip, you can still move units around and change options after you hit "done", so long as not everyone has completed their turn.

[Ghostbear]

Food is clearly not really playing. I reformed the game for Airosh, Crashcart, Wackman3000 and myself. Check your in game mail for the invite. Choose the same races please.

[Food Nipple]

Sorry about the delay, I was in the process of moving stuff between my old place and my new one for the past two days. If you guys want to reform without me, no hard feelings, but I won't be holding things up anymore.

[Jackel]

Sorry about the delay, I was in the process of moving stuff between my old place and my new one for the past two days. If you guys want to reform without me, no hard feelings, but I won't be holding things up anymore.

I'd suggest getting in a solo game or two, to get a feel of the game. That way you can join in next round.

[NotJeff]

I'd suggest getting in a solo game or two, to get a feel of the game. That way you can join in next round.

There's a mega game (100+ players) with signups closing at 5pm Central tomorrow. They require you to have completed a solo game to play. Get cracking, CoGgers!

[Wackman3000]

So anyone who was on the fence about the game interested in playing? We will be starting up another game ASAP so anyone wanting to play get registered and put your username in here.

[NotJeff]

So anyone who was on the fence about the game interested in playing? We will be starting up another game ASAP so anyone wanting to play get registered and put your username in here.

I could start another one, cog3 is winding down.

[Wackman3000]

Last call, we have 2 spots we'd like to fill up for another game.

[NotJeff]

Last call, we have 2 spots we'd like to fill up for another game.

I've got one more place I can look for players.